Ermance Rejebian papers

A Guide to the Collection

Ermance Rejebian (1906-1989) was a respected lecturer, author, and book reviewer. She was born in Bursa, Turkey to Armenian parents and immigrated to the United States at the age of 14. She reviewed hundreds of books (both fiction and non-fiction as well as classics and 20th century bestsellers) and presented these reviews to women's groups called "Rejebian Clubs" in Dallas and the southwest. During these reviews, Rejebian spoke from memory for one hour. She did not take questions and the groups did not focus on discussion of the books. Rather, the emphasis in these clubs was on hearing her summaries and critiques of the books. For seven years, from 1945 to 1952, Rejebian delivered summaries of important news stories of the day on a weekly broadcast on WFAA Radio, Dallas, Texas. Her papers include her book reviews and speeches, essays for live delivery on her radio shows, notes, photographs and correspondence, audio tapes, and newspaper clippings.

Ermance Rejebian (1906-1989) was a respected lecturer and author in the Southwest. She reviewed hundreds of books, and presented them to audiences in Dallas and Houston, mainly to women’s groups called "Rejebian Clubs." During these presentations, Rejebian spoke from memory for one hour. She did not take questions and the groups did not focus on discussion of the books. Rather, the emphasis in these clubs was on hearing Ermance Rejebian’s summaries and critiques of the books. The first of these "Rejebian Clubs" was organized in 1936, and eventually there were forty all together.

In 1906, Ermance Varsaverian was born to an Armenian Christian couple in Bursa, Turkey. She experienced the persecution of the Armenians there until she immigrated to the United States in 1920, at fourteen years of age. Rejebian attended Los Angeles High School and earned an elementary teaching certificate at UCLA. In 1928 she married Vahram Rejebian, who was also an Armenian immigrant from Turkey. The couple eventually had two children, Myron and Mary Rejebian. Vahrem was a successful businessman, selling Oriental rugs. The two remained very involved members of the Highland Park United Methodist Church into their old age.

As she became better known, Rejebian began to give book reviews and news commentaries on local radio. Rejebian provided the "background of the news" in a weekly broadcast for seven years on WFAA Radio, Dallas, Texas. She maintained a schedule of 170 to 300 speaking engagements per year. In 1951, she was chosen by Time Magazine as one of the 7 most influential women of the Southwest. Rejebian was also the first recipient of the Americanism Medal awarded by the Jane Douglas Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution "in recognition of the many contributions she has made as a naturalized citizen." Additionally, Rejebian wrote two short books describing her immigration to America, her husband's, and their life thereafter, titled Pilgrimage to Freedom and Testament of Faith. She was a devout Christian throughout her life, and eventually her studies on the Bible were published under the title The Book: the Bible Studies of Ermance Rejebian. She also published a book of her letters titled, Abroad with the Rejebians.

The Ermance Rejebian papers consist of her reviews, photographs, drafts of speeches, essays for live delivery on her radio shows, notes, correspondence, audio recordings, and newspaper clippings related to her life. The collection also contains a scrapbook created for Rejebian by a member of the Libris Book Club.

Rejebian wrote the majority of her reviews about classic literature. However, she also reviewed her own books, and lesser known works. Rejebian spoke at many public events about topics ranging from her travels to the history of Oriental rugs. Copies of these speeches have been preserved for this collection. For seven years, from 1945 to 1952, Rejebian delivered summaries of important news stories of the day on a weekly broadcast on WFAA Radio, Dallas, Texas. These essays are also included in the collection. Expressions of gratitude from the many people who appreciated and enjoyed Rejebian's work are also included in this collection. Eventually, Rejebian made an agreement with a publisher to record some of her reviews on audio tapes for sale. There are 21 of these recordings included in the collection. There are also slides of a celebration held in Rejebian’s honor in 1962 by members of her Book Review Clubs in Dallas.

The Ermance Rejebian papers were received in no discernable order. During processing, the collection was divided into separate files for book reviews, speeches, personal documents, audio cassettes, and the scrapbook. Folded documents were flattened, and the papers were arranged chronologically by topic, placed in acid-free folders, and stored in acid-free boxes.

In 2006, more than 200 speeches and essays were added, as well as a few audio cassettes and some slides. The materials were grouped by type with speeches and essays separated. The essays were grouped by year and organized in chronological order. The audio cassettes were stored in an original display box. The slides were in a sealed envelope. Paperclips were removed and each speech or essay was placed in a separate acid-free folder and placed in acid-free boxes. The audio cassettes were kept in their original display box and placed inside an acid-free oversize box. The slides were placed into a clear, slide protector sheet and placed inside an acid-free folder.

Series 1:Book Reviews, 1937-19852 boxes

This series contains the numerous book reviews of Ermance Rejebian. Before she spoke to any group, Rejebian would memorize the entire review so that she could speak without notes. In these reviews, Rejebian gives both an assessment of the book's quality and a summary of the events and characters. The reviews are arranged alphabetically by book title and stored in separate folders. The dates following the titles indicate the month and year Rejebian presented these reviews to an audience.

Series 2:Speeches and Radio Shows, 1945-19785 boxes

This series contains drafts of speeches and talks Ermance Rejebian planned to give and essays that she read on her radio program.

The speeches are not book reviews. Many outline Rejebian's experiences as an immigrant in America and reflect on her travels throughout the world. As Rejebian was held in high esteem throughout Texas, she was asked to speak at many diverse events, and, as she did with her reviews, she intricately planned out these speeches. Dates are included after the speech’s title when available. Most of the speeches are undated. The speeches are divided into two separate groups based on the date of acquisition. Both groups are arranged in alphabetical order.

The series also contains bound notebooks that contain essays and speeches for live delivery and radio broadcasts. Each notebook contains her writings for one or two years. Arrangement of the notebooks is chronological by year.

Finally, the series contains the individual essays on current event topics that were delivered on her radio show from 1945 to 1952. These essays are arranged chronologically.

This series contains 21 of Rejebian’s audio recordings on cassettes. These are "digests" of literary works prepared and voiced by Ermance Rejebian. Each tape is approximately one hour long. They were published by Literary Digest in 1983. There are duplicates of a few of the titles. The tapes are stored in an original display box.

This series also contains 14 slides from a celebration held in Rejebian’s honor by members of her Book Review Clubs in Dallas in 1962.

Box

8 (Oversize)

Audio Tapes

The Acts of the Apostles

The Book

Cry, the Beloved Country

Diary of Anne Frank (2 copies)

Esther

Genesis

The Gospel According to John

Hosea

Isaiah

Jeremiah

Mary Queen of Scotland

The Message to the Seven Churches

The Miracle Worker

Nicholas and Alexandra (3 copies)

Psalms

Revelation

The Scarlet Letter (2 copies)

The Sermon on the Mount

Treasures of the Bible (2 copies)

War and Peace

The World of St. Paul

Box

Folder

7

65

14 slides of A Celebration to Honor Ermance Rejebian – 1962 – Dallas Country Club – Given by her Book Review Clubs in Dallas

Series 4:Personal Documents, 1906-19881 box

This series includes important papers from Rejebian’s life, such as her birth certificate, naturalization papers, and high school and college diplomas. Her birth certificate and "identity book" are not in English, but all other documents are. It also includes several photographs of Rejebian as a girl and young woman. Additionally, there are gifts given to Rejebian, details of her speaking arrangements and newspaper clippings mentioning her and her husband, Vehram. Finally, a short autobiography written by Rejebian in her later life, as well as information about the Rejebian lectures held at Highland Park Methodist Church in her honor and memory, are included. Organization is chronological, whenever possible.